Insecticidal compositions suitable for use in preparation of insecticidal liquid fertilizers

ABSTRACT

Insecticidal compositions suitable for use in preparation of insecticidal liquid fertilizers comprising a pyrethroid, a hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate, and at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a sucrose ester, a lignosulfonate, an alkylpolyglycoside, a naphthalenesulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate and a phosphate ester are disclosed.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/682,502, filed May 19, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of chemical compositions andformulations. In particular, the invention provides an insecticidalcomposition suitable for use in preparation of insecticidal liquidfertilizers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To enable the efficient elimination or control of unwanted insects incombination with providing nutrients for plants to combat adverseenvironmental conditions (heat, dry weather, physical contact withanimals) it is desirable to formulate an effective chemical insecticidefor use in preparation of insecticidal liquid fertilizers. Formulationsof insecticides combined with fertilizers are desirable in agriculturaland related endeavors due to the multiple benefits conveyed by just oneapplication in a single piece of equipment. One application of such acombination or formulation provides nutrients for the plant growth,while eliminating or controlling unwanted insects that can also affectthe health and vitality of the desirable plants.

Mixtures containing insecticide compositions and liquid fertilizers havebeen practiced in the art, but problems with the physical stability ofsuch mixtures have caused application and efficacy issues. When atraditional insecticidal composition is combined with a liquidfertilizer, the combined components (surfactants, viscosity modifiers,wetting agents) of both may cause accelerated physical degradation(phase separation) of the mixture. This physical degradation can occurin the mix tanks prior to application on the plants. Often this problemgoes unnoticed and results in inconsistent application of both thefertilizer and insecticide, yielding inadequate efficacy of both.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, it has now been found that anew insecticidal composition significantly improves physical stabilitywhen used to prepare an insecticidal liquid fertilizer. Specifically,the present invention is directed to an insecticidal compositioncomprising a pyrethroid, a hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate, and atleast one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a sucroseester, a lignosulfonate, an alkylpolyglycoside, a naphthalenesulfonicacid formaldehyde condensate and a phosphate ester.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an insecticidal compositioncomprising a pyrethroid, a hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate, and atleast one dispersant selected from the group consisting of a sucroseester, a lignosulfonate, an alkylpolyglycoside, a naphthalenesulfonicacid formaldehyde condensate and a phosphate ester. The dispersant ordispersants are preferably present in a total concentration of from0.02% by weight to 15% by weight based upon the total weight of allcomponents in the composition.

The pyrethroid is preferably selected from the group consisting ofbifenthrin, zeta-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, cypermethrin,deltamethrin, permethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin,tralomethrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, esfenvalerate, fluvalinateand natural pyrethrum; more particularly, the pyrethroid is bifenthrin.The pyrethroid is preferably present in a concentration of from 1.0% byweight to 25% by weight, more particularly, from 15% by weight to 25% byweight based upon the total weight of all components in the composition.

The hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate is preferably selected from thegroup consisting of montmorillonite and attapulgite. The phosphate esterdispersant is preferably selected from the group consisting of a nonylphenol phosphate ester and a tridecyl alcohol ethoxylated phosphatepotassium salt.

The composition may further comprise at least one of an anti-freezeagent, an anti-foam agent and a biocide.

The composition may further comprise an insecticidally effective amountof one or more additional insecticides. Preferred insecticides areselected from the group consisting of imidacloprid, flonicamid,nithiazine, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiacloprid,clothianadin and chlorfenapyr.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a composition comprisinga pyrethroid, a hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate, at least onedispersant selected from the group consisting of a sucrose ester, alignosulfonate, an alkylpolyglycoside, a naphthalenesulfonic acidformaldehyde condensate and a phosphate ester and a liquid fertilizer.The liquid fertilizer is preferably present in a concentration of from95.00% by weight to 99.99% by weight based upon the total weight of allcomponents in the formulation. The composition may further comprise atleast one of an anti-freeze agent, an anti-foam agent and a biocide. Thecomposition may also further comprise an insecticidally effective amountof one or more additional insecticides selected from the groupconsisting of imidacloprid, flonicamid, nithiazine, thiamethoxam,dinotefuran, nitenpyram, thiacloprid, clothianadin and chlorfenapyr.

An especially preferred embodiment of the present invention is aninsecticidal composition comprising from 15% to 25% of bifenthrin, from1% to 20% of hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate and from 0.02% to 15%of at least one dispersant selected from the group consisting of asucrose ester, a lignosulfonate, an alkylpolyglycoside, anaphthalenesulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate and a phosphate ester,wherein all % are % by weight based upon the total weight of allcomponents in the composition.

Another especially preferred embodiment of the present invention is aninsecticidal fertilizer composition comprising from 0.75% to 1.25% ofbifenthrin, from 0.05% to 1.0% of hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate,from 0.1% to 0.75% of at least one dispersant selected from the groupconsisting of a sucrose ester, a lignosulfonate, an alkylpolyglycoside,a naphthalenesulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate and a phosphateester, and from 95% to 99.99% of a liquid fertilizer, wherein all % are% by weight based upon the total weight of all components in thecomposition.

The present invention encompasses a method of controlling unwantedinsects and providing nutrients to plants, the method comprisingapplying to an area infested with such insects and containing suchplants an effective amount of a liquid fertilizer in combination withone of the compositions of this invention.

The present invention also encompasses a process for preparing acomposition of this invention comprising dispersing a pyrethroid in amixture of water and at least one dispersant; and optionally ananti-freeze agent, an anti-foam agent and a biocide, wet milling themixture and adding a hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate. The processmay further comprise adding the resultant mixture to a liquidfertilizer.

As used in this specification and unless otherwise indicated the term“insecticide” refers to a molecule or combination of molecules thatrepels, retards, or kills insects, and can be used for crop protection,edifice protection, turf protection, or protection of a person. The term“liquid fertilizer” refers to a fertilizer in a fluid or liquid formcontaining various ratios of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (forexample, but not limited to, 10% nitrogen, 34% phosphorous and 0%potassium) and micronutrients. The term “ambient temperature” asutilized herein shall mean any suitable temperature found in alaboratory or other working environment, and is generally not belowabout 15° C. nor above about 30° C.

The modifier “about” is used herein to indicate that certain preferredoperating ranges, such as ranges for molar ratios for reactants,material amounts, and temperature, are not fixedly determined. Themeaning will often be apparent to one of ordinary skill. For example, arecitation of a temperature range of about 120° C. to about 135° C. inreference to, for example, an organic chemical reaction would beinterpreted to include other like temperatures that can be expected tofavor a useful reaction rate for the reaction, such as 105° C. or 150°C. Where guidance from the experience of those of ordinary skill islacking, guidance from the context is lacking, and where a more specificrule is not recited below, the “about” range shall be not more than 10%of the absolute value of an end point or 10% of the range recited,whichever is less.

The compositions of the present invention are further illustrated by theexamples below. The examples serve only to illustrate the invention andshould not be interpreted as limiting since further modifications of thedisclosed invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Allsuch modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention asdefined in the claims.

Example 1

This example illustrates the preparation of a composition (CompositionA) of the present invention.

An amount of 1,252.01 grams of water was combined with 492.65 grams ofpropylene glycol, 468.07 grams of tridecyl alcohol ethoxylated phosphatepotassium salt (Dextrol OC-180 available from Dexter Chemical Corp. inBronx, N.Y.), 314.59 grams of C₉-C₁₁, alkyl d-glucopyranoside (Agnique9116 available from Cognis Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio), 17.46 gramsof polydimethylsiloxane (DowCorning AF available from Dow Corning Corp.in Midland, Mich.) and 8.74 grams of an isothiazodone compound (KathonCG/ICP available from Rohn and Haas Co. in Philadelphia, Pa.) and themixture was agitated. To this mixture was added 9,072.34 grams ofbifenthrin (22.90 weight % active ingredient). The resultant mixture wasmilled to less than 9 microns and then 245.14 grams of attapulgite clay(Attaflow FL available from Englehard in Iselin, N.J.) was added tomodify the final viscosity and produce a composition of the presentinvention.

Example 2

This example illustrates the preparation of a composition (CompositionB) of the present invention.

An amount of 1,726.24 grams of water was combined with 269.89 grams ofpropylene glycol, 154.22 grams of tridecyl alcohol ethoxylated phosphatepotassium salt (Dextrol OC-180 available from Dexter Chemical Corp. inBronx, N.Y.), 269.89 grams of C₉-C₁₁ alkyl d-glucopyranoside (Agnique9116 available from Cognis Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio), 7.71 gramsof polydimethylsiloxane (DowCorning AF available from Dow Corning Corp.in Midland, Mich.) and 3.86 grams of an isothiazodone compound (KathonCG/ICP available from Rohn and Haas Co. in Philadelphia, Pa.) and themixture was agitated. To this mixture was added 922.51 grams ofbifenthrin (94.60 weight % active ingredient). The resultant mixture wasmilled to less than 9 microns and then 501.22 grams of attapulgite clay(Attaflow FL available from Englehard in Iselin, N.J.) was added tomodify the final viscosity and produce a composition of the presentinvention.

Example 3

This example illustrates the preparation of a composition (CompositionC) of the present invention.

An amount of 170.80 grams of water was combined with 24.0 grams ofpropylene glycol, 12.0 grams of tridecyl alcohol ethoxylated phosphatepotassium salt (Dextrol OC-180 available from Dexter Chemical Corp. inBronx, N.Y.), 12.0 grams of C₉-C₁₁ alkyl d-glucopyranoside (Agnique 9116available from Cognis Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio), 12.0 grams ofnaphthalenesulfonic acid formaldehyde condensate (Agnique ANSC 1NPavailable from Cognis Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio), 0.80 gram ofpolydimethylsiloxane (DowCorning AF available from Dow Corning Corp. inMidland, Mich.) and 0.40 gram of an isothiazodone compound (KathonCG/ICP available from Rohn and Haas Co. in Philadelphia, Pa.) and themixture was agitated. To this mixture was added 96.0 grams of bifenthrin(94.60 weight % active ingredient). The resultant mixture was milled toless than 9 microns and then 72.0 grams of attapulgite clay (Attaflow FLavailable from Englehard in Iselin, N.J.) was added to modify the finalviscosity and produce a composition of the present invention.

Example 4

This example illustrates the preparation of a composition (CompositionD) of the present invention.

An amount of 178.8 grams of water was combined with 24.0 grams ofpropylene glycol, 28.0 grams of C₉-C₁₁, alkyl d-glucopyranoside (Agnique9116 available from Cognis Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio), 0.80 gramof polydimethylsiloxane (DowCorning AF available from Dow Corning Corp.in Midland, Mich.) and 0.40 gram of an isothiazodone compound (KathonCG/ICP available from Rohn and Haas Co. in Philadelphia, Pa.) and themixture was agitated. To this mixture was added 96.0 grams of bifenthrin(94.60 weight % active ingredient). The resultant mixture was milled toless than 9 microns and then 72.0 grams of attapulgite clay (Attaflow FLavailable from Englehard in Iselin, N.J.) was added to modify the finalviscosity and produce a composition of the present invention.

Example 5 Comparative Stability Studies

This example sets forth stability studies that were performed oncompositions prepared in accordance with the present invention.

The physical stability of Composition D of Example 4 was tested bymixing the composition with a 10% nitrogen-34% phosphorous-0% potassiumliquid fertilizer at a 1% active ingredient ratio and observing themixture's physical stability in a 500 milliliter/50 cm column.Composition D's stability was compared with that of a traditionalcomposition in the art, an Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) of bifenthrinthat was mixed at a 1% active ingredient ratio with a 10-34-0 liquidfertilizer. As phase separation of the mixtures occurred at 0, 20, 40 60and 100 minutes, the bottom layer was removed and analyzed for weight %bifenthrin to determine the remaining amount of bifenthrin in thecolumn. Table 1 contains the results of the stability test.

TABLE 1 Physical Stability % of Total Bifenthrin Remaining in MixtureOver Time Time (minutes) 0 20 40 60 100 Composition D 100 92 93 — 96Bifenthrin EC 100 12 6 3 1

While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon preferredembodiments, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the artthat variations in the preferred compositions and methods may be usedand that it is intended that the invention may be practiced otherwisethan as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this inventionincludes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as defined by the claims that follow.

1. A composition consisting essentially of a) from 15% to 25% ofbifenthrin; b) from 1% to 20% of hydrated aluminum-magnesium silicate;and c) from 0.02% to 15% of at least one dispersant selected from thegroup consisting of a sucrose ester, a lignosulfonate, analkylpolyglycoside, a naphthalenesulfonic acid formaldehyde condensateand a phosphate ester; wherein all % are % by weight based upon thetotal weight of all components in the composition.